The contamination of a Sawyers Bay creek turned white by dumped paint has been labelled "pretty appalling'' by a West Harbour Community Board member.
On January 5, paint was dumped into Thompsons Creek, which cuts through properties and runs beside part of Hall Rd.
Photographs posted on a Sawyers Bay social media page of the creek running white prompted complaints to the Otago Regional Council.
ORC stakeholder engagement director Caroline Rowe said the complaints had come too late to trace the offender, but an informant had identified a Hall Rd property where a roof was being painted as the "potential source''.
ORC staff had written to the property owners, warning them the discharge breached the Otago water plan "and the need to dispose of paint and similar contaminants appropriately in future''.
"No further action can be taken in this instance,'' she said.
It was not known how much paint had been discharged into the creek, the size of the creek's fishery or the likely impact of the discharge, she said.
West Harbour board member Ryan Jones said the incident was "pretty appalling''.
"The amount looks quite substantial so it looks like it has been done on purpose.''
He has asked for an update on the incident from ORC staff at the board's next meeting, and hoped public education would be increased to remind people of their obligations.
Board chairman Steve Walker said discarding "noxious chemicals'' into a waterway was "highly unacceptable''.
"It's certainly something I don't think anyone in our community would want happening again.
"Kids play in that stream and it could potentially be pretty hazardous,'' he said.
Mrs Rowe urged the public to use the ORC's pollution hotline to report similar incidents.
